Sunday, 30 May 2010

Scrisoare pentru prieteni (Letter to friends)



29 mai, 2010
Juba, Sudanul de Sud

Iata o scrisoare din Juba si , evident o sa incerc sa-ti descriu putin locul si viata aici. Dar trebuie sa-ti fac o mica introducere despre istoria acestui loc. Am citit cite ceva, desi sigur istoria Sudanului este foarte complexa, un lucru apare ca un fir rosu din vremea faraonilor pina acum. Sudanul de Sud a fost intotdeauna privit doar ca o rezerva inepuizabila de marfuri : in special sclavi, pina in prezent chiar, fildes, lemn, produse agricole, aur, acum petrol. Este o tara cu niste resurse naturale extraordinare : pamint foarte fertil, precipitatii, riuri, paduri de esente pretioase, petrol, tot ce vrei. Tendintele astea de exploatare se contiuna si astazi. Initial au exploatat egiptenii, apoi au venit arabii, apoi consortiu egipteano-britanic, adica de fapt numai englezii si arabii pentru sclavi, apoi dupa independenta, sudanezii din nord, majoritatea arabi si musulmani, i- au exploatat cit au putut pe astia din sud, crestini si animisti majoritatea. Sudul se rascula din cind in cind, se mai bateau, adica erau iar batuti, iar era un pic de pace, etc. Ultimul razboi a inceput prin 1985. Si de data asta au cistigat sa zicem. Odata pentru ca strategia sefului lor, John Garand de Mabyor a fost ca intii sa nu se bata cu nordul, ci sa-si alature prin toate metodele, toti sefii locali astfel incit sa nu mai fie dezbinati, si apoi cu ajutorul Etiopiei, a Keniey, in general a tarilor africane mai comuniste , a rezistat intr-un razboi de guerilla timp de 20 de ani. Intre timp, ca sa nu moara toata populatia, o mare parte s-a refugiat in alte tari sau in Nord, si o alta parte a fost aprovizionata si servicii au mai fost mentinute de Natiunile Unite si de Organizatii neguvernamentale internationale, intr-o operatiune faimoasa, numita ‘Operation Lifeline’. Cu toate acestea, razboiul a dus la moartea a peste 2 milioane de oameni. Omoriti in lupte, foamete provocata special de cei din Nord, etc, etc. In timpul razboiului au fost capturati si multi oameni in special copii si folositi ca sclavi. Chestia asta o faceau triburile arabe din Nord, genul militiilor Janjawa de acum. Tot in perioada razboiului au fost omorite si aproape toate animalele. Cei din sud ca sa aiba ce minca, cei din nord ca sa-i impiedice pe localnici sa manince.

In 2005, in urma unor negocieri duse in principal prin intermediul Statelor Unite, au incheiat un acord de pace care a fost si ramine in vigoare. Conform acestui acord, daca partile, nordul si sudul nu ajung sa se impace si sa convietuiasca timp de 6 ani atunci pot sa tina un referendum si sa se desparta tarile. Nordul nu a reusit in acesti ani sa faca uniunea o optiune viabila. Nici nu este de mirare avind in vedere ca de la independenta, din 1966, s-au luptat in total mai bine de 30 , 40 de ani. Asa ca autonomia destul de avansata care o au acum se va transforma in independenta totala dupa referendumul care se va tine in ianuarie 2011 , asta daca se repecta in continuare acordul de pace. Aceasta inseamna sa se rezolve niste neintelegeri de frontiera, care sunt importante pentru ca acolo sunt zacamintele de petrol, percum si alte probleme pe care le au de impartit. Aceasta independenta nu este vazuta cu ochi buni de multi altii, inclusiv de Uniunea africana, care se gindesc la miscarile de autodeterminare din alte tari africane, din care majoriatatea sunt cauzate de modul arbitrar in care englezii sau francezii au trasat granitele atunci cind au facut-o. Reinceperea razboiului este posibila, mai ales ca amindoua partile s-au inarmat cu disperare din banii care ii iau de pe petrol. Sudul a cumparat sute de tancuri. Sper sa rugineasca in pace !

Eeeeiiiii, asta a fost intre Nord si Sud. Dar sa nu crezi ca in Sud acum toti sunt intr-un acord si armonie. Anul trecut in lupte intertribale au murit peste 2,500 de oameni, mai multi decit au murit in Darfur, unde tipa toata lumea in acelasi an. Oamenii au conflicte pentru pamint, acces la apa, pe furturi de vite, etc. Insa cum violenta este pentru ei singurul mod de rezolvare a conflictelor, cum toata lumea este inarmata dupa 20 de ani de razboi continuu, orice mic conflict se transforma intr-o batalie singeroasa. Adaugam la aceste conflicte neincrederea si dusmania ancestrala intre triburi : Dinka contra Nuer, Ecuatorieni contra Nubieni, etc, etc. Iar mai nou, diversi generali care au luptat in razboiul lor de independenta si care pierd alegerile, nu inteleg sa accepte jocul democratic si se rascoala cu divizia lor cu totul. Si atunci alte lupte…Iar ca sa fie tacimul complet, uite vine si capitalistul nostru cel de toate zilele care vrea sa foreze pentru petrol. Si de cele mai multe ori este o companie chineza care acapareaza tot mai mult din rezervele de petrol. Si ca sa nu aiba dificultati cu localnicii care au probleme cu accesul pe terenul lor, sau care vor si ei parte din beneficii, chinezii sau alte companii angajeaza mercenari care 'rezolva' orice comunitate care rezista sau care ar face probleme companiilor. Si iata cum ajungem din nou la exploatarea saracei tari…Ultima forma de exploatare despre care citesc in presa este acapararea terenurilor. Fonduri de investitii, capitalisti din toata lumea se reped aici si cumpara milioane de hectare de teren fertil pentru agricultura. Nu e clar de la cine il cumpara, dar daca au semnatura presedintelui sau a un ministru, doi, e OK. Au intlegeri cu diversi generali semi independenti, care contorleaza parte din tara prin legaturi tribale, politice, etc. Acesti antreprenori nu cumpara terneul pentru specula cu terenuri, sa zici ca o sa le vinda mai tirziu. NU. Ar fi simplu. Acesti tipi asteapta ca incalzirea globala si criza de alimente mondiala sa devina acuta si atunci o sa produca alimente care o sa le vind cu profit. O afacere buna de fapt…Pina atunci insa, nu se va produce nimic pe aceste terenuri, ceea ce ar trebui de fapt, daca Sudanul vrea sa-si dezvolte armonios economia, si nu sa devina o economie bazata numai pe petrol, care este un dezastru, asa cum s-a intimplat in Nigeria sau ai alte locuri. Noroc ca tara e mare.
Deci, asa cum zice la ziarul Catavencu : Avem o tara…ce facem cu ea ?
Toate serviciile aproape erau oferite de ONG-uri are aveau finantari directe de la alte tari, de la ONU, etc. Incet incet guvernul de aici a inceput sa se ridice sa se intareasca, si a solicitat sa controleze ce se intimpla in tara lor, si sa finanteze ei aceste servicii conform standardelor lor. Asta nu convine multor ONG-uri siu acum inca mai sunt manevere pe aceasta tema. Insa intr-adevar, asta este o tara a ONG. Cred mai mult de 60/70 % din serviciile umanitare si sociale de la sanantate la educatie si la agricultura sunt efectuate prin sau de catre ONG-uri. In Juba nu prea vezi firme comerciale sau birouri de firme si foarte putine banci. Majoritatea sunt birouri de ONG-uri, de organizatii de dezvoltare bilaterale si multilaterale. Din loc in loc o cladire de birouri guvernamentale.
Este un oras foarte sarac. Este cel mai sarac loc care l-am vazut in viata mea. Exista citeva drumuri asfaltate care s-au facut recent si proigramul continua incet incet. Majoritatea drumurilor sunt de pamint, plin de sleauri, incit intelegi de ce aici nu vezi decit masini 4x4, mari. Este tara Land-Cruiser…Inclusiv ca sa ajungi in centru, la singurul supermarket din oras, care arata a depozit de materiale, cu trei galantare inauntru si cinci mici indieni care servesc. Imi cumpar de acolo apa minerala si pasta de dinti. Oferta mai include insecticid, biscuiti, pantaloni si ceva bauturi alcoolice. Intr-o zi au avut si servetele… Cine stie, poate o sa aduca si lenjerie. Daca vrei sa cumperi ceva mai special trebuie sa te duci la Nairobi. Cu avionul mai bine, ca in perioada asta drumul este controlat de banditi. Sau daca vrei neaparat cu masina, ca ai de carat, mai bine o iei prin Kampala, prin Uganda. Drumul e bun, de pamint dar a fost reabilitat de curind. Atit ca si pe aici trebuie putina atentie acum ca au fost atacuri ale unei alte armate de guerilla care bintuie zona, Lord’s Resistance Army. Insa in Juba este OK. Ca s afiu sincer este chiar surprinzator cum, dupa atitia ani de suferinte si de cruzime si de razboi, oamenii sunt senini, foarte primitori, esti in mod normal salutat pe strada de necunoscuti, ca in sate la noi. Vezi adeseori oameni imbracati in adevarate toge , legate la umar, incaltati in sandale facute de ei . Nu au bani si nici obiceiul de a se imbraca cu panataloni, camasi…dar sunt toti prietenosi, curiosi sa vada minunatiile civilizatiei : motociclete, asfalt, toyota landcruiser, oameni albi…Inca nu au aparut semafoare sau reclame luminoase. De fapt inca nu e retea de curent electric. Adica reteaua este dar inca nu a fost reabilitata si curentul si-l procura fiecare cu generatoare autonome. Insa jumatate din « oras » are apa acum.
Comunitatea de expati, de straini din toata lumea venita aici cu ONG-uri si agentii de dezvoltare locuieste in camp-uri/hoteluri. Initial acestea erau facute din containere amenajate si cele mai multe erau corturi. Mai recent este un adevarat boom in constructii in industria asta, si au inceput sa apara niste campuri facute din bungalowuri , ca sa nu le spunem baraci. Intr-o baraca din asta, impartita in doua, stau si eu. Este destul de OK. Am un pat, o masa mica, un scaun , dulap, si chiar, culmea luxului aici, o baie separata a mea, cu WC si dus. L-am mobilizat pe patron si mi-a dat dupa citeva zile o baraca mai izolata putin , unde am ‘privacy’ si o vedere mai frumoasa. Sigur insa ca au trebuit sa munceasca doua zile ca i-am pus sa-mi vopseasca iar peretii, sa repare dulapul, mi-au schimbat broasca, si…am si televizor ! Prind CNN si Aljazeera in rest timpenii sau in araba…
Suntem putini romani in Juba: Sabin, sotia lui, Ina si cum mine. Si asa acum se intimpla chestiile astea, ne-am gasit : eu fost director la Rosia Montana, iar el activist la o orgnaizatie neguvernamentala, PATRIR, care lupta impotriva proiectului. Ne-am amuzat copios, si ne-am povestit chestii asa cum o fac fostii combatanti dupa razboi. E un tip foarte misto.
Pentru acum, ajunge…o sa-ti mai scriu despre ce fac aici in alta scrisoare. Poate pina atunci ma dumiresc si eu.

Thursday, 27 May 2010

African Party...

World Bank Office in Juba fires 30 people. Cleaners, maintainance mechanics, people that have worked for the office for the last two - three years. They are to be replaced by a company. For the bureaucrats in Washington it's easier to deal with one company than with 30 individuals, insurance, etc, etc.
The monthly 'fun and games' is to be also a send-off for these people: diplomas & awards, emotional send-off. They are all decent, reserved.
And then the music starts: African rhythms. The whole atmosphere changes: bodies move in a slow, highly sensual rythm, hips sway, feet beat the floor in rythm, smiles and semi closed eyes. The music is contagious it fills you up, it pushes you off the chair. And people are happy! Music and dance changes the mood...for me too: I leave off the business..I tear up the papers I had brought to discuss with the country manager, to his undissimulated pleasure: „Fuck the Work!” I dance...I sway in the rythm with a lithe sensual Dinka, who starting with tommorow will be an unemployed...doesn’t matter: Carpe diem!
Interesting follow-up: next morning, I come to work as the model bureaucrat, at 8.20, stiff shirt, tie, black shoes, glasses but now I don't fool anybody any longer: Big smiles or even laughter: Hey, Man! You can dance!

Wednesday, 19 May 2010

Sat african reconstruit...Rebuilt villages...



In timpul razboiului care a durat mai bine de 20 de ani, majoritatea satelor din jurul Jubei au fost distruse, locuitorii au plecat in refugiu. Acum se intorc, incet, incet. Satul din imagine s-a ridicat in ultimii doi ani, de aceiasi comunitate care a locuit in acest spatiu initial. In general casele (tukul) au acoperis de paie dar aici au avut acces la tabla...Ma rog o fi mai buna...

The village inthe background has been rebuilt by the IDP's returned after many years from refuge, on the same space, same community. The small round houses with thached roofs called tukul are the usual habitat. More recently they may use corrugated iron...Must be hellishly warm inside...

Tuesday, 18 May 2010

So much can be done with so little !



…South Sudan is one of the poorest places on earth. Refugees are returning after many years, building new huts made of mud and straw…We al know education is the single most important thing that will pull this people out of the misery of struggling for day to day subsistence. I went to see an education/gender project in one of these villages set up by returning refugees. The school is maintained by an NGO (BRAD) and is a 5x3 m ‘building’ made of mud with corrugated metal sheet for roof. 30 children sit on the ground, covered by a sheet…educational devices and support are a few sheets of papers with drawings… Each child stays in school for three years. There are no vacations, the school lasts for three hours early in the morning until the heat makes the space impossible. BRAD has as many schools as they can set-up depending on their resources and teachers they can recruit. The economics of this educational system are easy. Building rental is 100 USD/month. Teacher 120 to 200 USD/month. Books and copybooks free from UNICEF. It comes to about 8 USD/child/month. And they are happy!!

Thursday, 29 April 2010

Nigerian impressions

A few days ago I was writing in my diary: “I am willing to bet anything that there are many kind, gentle, smart Nigerians who are so irrespective of interest or duty. It’s just that I haven’t met them in the short time I have been here. However, I do see an incredible number of alfa males, with puffed-up chests and hard or arrogant looks. The violence is palpable- you feel it everywhere.” Well, I met the nice guys here in Abudja. But I have to say: Nigerians are something! Smart, very smart. But My God, what an ego!! But also many really good men and therefore also modest, kind people.
It is true that many of them have emigrated. A newspaper here was even saying that all intelligent people have left the country, leaving the country on the hands of cupid, greedy and violent leaders!
As New York is definitely NOT America, the same way Lagos is not Nigeria. At the end of my stay in Lagos, exhausted and exasperated I was writing: “Two days of driving in Lagos have opened a window into their character. It is not their abilities- most certainly not, otherwise there would much more people killed than the aprox. 200/month; NO. It is not the fact that they are not trained, because they are not- in Nigeria you don’t need training or pass an examination to get a driver’s license. You pay 5,000 nira (about $ 40) and you get it. It is the absolute DISREGARD for all the rest of the world you can AFFORD to disregard. If your car is tougher and you don’t care if you scratch it you disregard everyone and you drive wherever you see a space. Or stop in the middle of the road even if you discomfort hundreds others. And if they happen to be in an armored vehicle, then they weave and blast the horn for everybody to get out of their way because they are ARMOURED.”
The MACHO attitude is fundamental characteristic in Lagos. The ‘tough guy look’ is, it seems, a defense mechanism, still useful and an absolute necessity until very recently. A year , two ago , weapons and armed assault was commonplace in Lagos. An argument on traffic issues was resolved with guns being drawn out and often…used. The macho look ensured survival. A normal look meant you were a sure victim. You had to look the part. Many people became the part and cannot get rid of the role they played.
An interesting phenomenon: here few motorcycles have rear view mirrors. THEY DON’T NEED THEM. They don’t care if they discomfort you by cutting in front and they believe they are so fast and nimble you can’t catch them. Or that you will break not to scratch your car. And I have seen at least ten bykers pounding their fists on cars.
Nigerians seem to be very proud of their country. And more recently they seem to realize they also need to care about it. It is endowed, indeed, with great mineral resources and agricultural potential . But they mismanage in an exemplary way their resources. Actually I think the term ‘resource curse’ was coined on their situation… And it seems they have several million cattle but there are no Nigerian dairy products, and even the juice sold in stores is made from a concentrate imported from other countries…while their fruits rot…Although the biggest economy in West Africa they have a big issue on reallocation of wealth: 75% of the population is under the poverty level.
They are one of the largest oil producers, but their two refineries are out of business, and the fuel comes from refineries owned by Nigerian oligarchs but located out of the country! The local investment climate must be very unfriendly…! Actually it is estimated that out of the 1.3 trillion dollars sitting doing nothing in trust funds in the Channel Islands, a good portion comes from Africa and of course, Nigeria…
I try to discern, as part of my job, a possible civic movement on which to base an advocacy strategy for a better trade and transport environment. In Lagos I am regarded as a strange animal. No one here does ANYTHING if there isn’t an immediate profit. Nobody thinks in long term or civic duty…
In Abudja, things are more nuanced! Industries, businesses are here more mature, closer to the political center and the value of lobbying and a large power base is appreciated.
Same when I talk about the ‘legal way of doing business’. Sorry! You don’t get it! It all comes down to maximizing profit. To do business, legally or illegally you have to pay bribes!! The only rationale here is the quick buck: how much bribe versus how much profit. More than 80% of the containers arriving in Lagos contain contraband or even if not they are not cleared until a negotiation on the tax is achieved. And it can last weeks, months, depending on the demand for the product and storage costs… The best comes afterwards…the latest technique is to introduce in the container a prohibited item. The container is confiscated according to latest norms. Later it is auctioned and it gets awarded to the right guy, who pays for it less than the tarrif due.
Nigerians are proud of their ‘democracy’. Well… Poor Plato…Rule of law is somewhat of a mess. The Parliament hasn’t passed a significant law in the last 20 years!! For example the customs law is the same since 1958!! It is totally outdated, it doesn’t respond to any international agreement adopted by Nigeria. Everything works by ‘executive order’…And it is the same in all sectors…And their parliamentarians are paid huge salaries.
To work in this country you have to understand the system…A law or an international agreement, etc, doesn’t have the same value as in a rule of law country, in the sense that a law represents the expression of a political interest at a certain moment and that’s it. Next moment, another policy…

Wednesday, 28 April 2010

African tanker...




The mound of yellow plastic cans, which originally held vegetable oil is the latest technology in the smuggling of Nigerian oil. Believe it or not underneath there is a scooter. It will cross the frontier in Nigeria using a narrow beaten earth foot path and will return in Benin the same way, to sell the gas by the bottle, a few cents cheaper than the official gas station. It is a terribly hard way to make a living, dangerous ,etc. There have been voices raised against this practice. But it seems the President of Benin who comes from a very poor family originally was sent to school by his parents who earned a living and paid his schooling using similar means...He cannot forbid it now...
And by the way...coming in Cotonou I see a motorcade stopped in one of the slum areas: It was the president coming to visit his home and parents...I rather like the guy!

Tuesday, 20 April 2010

African wizards - Les sorciers d'Afrique sont bien vivants

I was thinking about informal communication vectors and I casually enter in a fascinating discussion with my driver, Richard, in Benin:

Richard, est-ce qu’il ya des sorciers ?
Oh, oui monsieur Dan, il y a en a beaucoup !

Comment on devient sorcier ? On va à une école ? On fait de la formation?
Non, la sorcière se donne…Quand on mange, le sorcier te donne a manger la viande d’un homme qu’il a transforme en poulet ou en autre animal. Et tu crois que tu manges du poulet mais tu deviens sorcier. Dans les familles ou il ya des nombreux sorciers, ils donnent aux jeunes pour qu’ils devienent sorciers aussi.

Comment tu connais qu’ils sont sorciers ? Ils ont des tatouages ?
Non…seulement si tu dors avec lui dans une chambre. La nuit, les sorciers s’en vont pour se rencontrer dans l’esprit. Ils ont leurs rencontres. Et la bas, dans la chambre il ne reste que la peau. Si tu touche la peau, il ne se lève pas parce’ que l’esprit est ailleurs. La ou les esprits des sorciers se rencontre.

Mais qu’est qu’ils discutent alors ?
Ils discutent qui tuer, qu’il faut transformer en animal, ainsi de suite ! Parce-que un sorcier peut-être veut la mort de quelqu’un qui ne lui a pas donne de l’argent mais l’autres disent que ca ce n’est pas bien et alors il ne le tue pas. Mais ils se rencontrent aussi quand ils se transforment en animaux. Chaque Sorcier se transforme dans un seul animal. Un en serpent, un autre en oiseau, et ils se rencontrent comme ca et ils parlent.

Les sorciers sont méchants ?
Non, pas toujours, si tu as fait quelque chose mal ou quelqu’un veut ta mort, le sorcier peut se faire serpent et il te mord. Dans mon village deux femmes sont mortes comme ca.

Mais l’église…qu’est qu’elle dit de ca ?
L’église catholique… C’est la que les sorciers et les hommes méchants vont chaque dimanche matin. Ils sont tous sorciers et ils parlent de leur choses mechantes.

Richard, ca s’appelle confession. Et les prêtres sont sorciers aussi ?

Non les prêtres sont bons. Mais l’église américaine, l’évangéliste, tout ca, c’est commercial, il y a pas des sorciers mais il ya pas d’esprit. C’est commerce…